Naruto: Symphony of Eternity

Book 1: Absolution Shall Not Come

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or its characters. If I did, the series would have concluded differently.

"We never paid any heed to the warnings. We never considered an alternative. All we did was fight as we had for generations. We never paid any heed, until the night the white moon left the sky, and a new enemy came upon us. All of us now stand on the edge of oblivion, for his reign of terror has begun…"

A/N: Once again, I wish to take the time to personally thank all of you, those who reviewed, favorited, and are following this story. Your support means everything to me, here. Once more, I shall address a few of you before we begin.

Spumid: Admittedly the date scene was more slow-coming to me than most of what I write, so I am pleased my effort there wasn't for naught. Thanks for the encouraging words!

SaiyanWarrior200: Your reviews are always good to read as well. I appreciate your continued feedback for most of the chapters thus far.

Rakasa: As always your reviews are much appreciated. I figured two in a row would be a nice change of pace for updates :)

Chapter 9: Together

The following morning when Naruto walked over to the Hokage tower, he was surprised to find it ripe with activity. More jonin and Black Ops personnel than usual were running about from room to room while others still reinforced the usual guards. Even more puzzling was the appearance of ambassadors from both the Land of Fire and the other countries in the Shinobi Alliance. Each and every one of them seemed very livid, demanding to speak to the Hokage only to be held back by exhausted staff and stalwart guards. They also appeared to be ready to tear into each other as well, and Naruto was concerned violence would erupt. He asked anyone of the staff or guards whose attention he could obtain for Shikamaru, hoping for a possible explanation from his friend, but apparently the lazy jonin was elsewhere and just as occupied as everyone else.

Finally, the blonde ninja showed himself into the Hokage office, where he found Kakashi and Shikamaru. The two veterans spoke to each other in rushed tones.

"It doesn't seem possible. How could this have happened?" Shikamaru asked his superior.

"I can't make heads or tails of it, either. Even so, we can't keep stalling forever. Go out there and tell the ambassadors I'll begin meeting with them, one at a time, shortly. No sense in bringing them all in at once so they can clobber one another," Kakashi told his assistant, who nodded as he understood.

"Right away, Lord Hokage."

Shikamaru turned to leave, and exchanged a concerned glance with Naruto as he did so. Kakashi turned his attention to his apprentice as the young man walked over to his desk.

"Naruto, I'm glad you're here. I know I said your apprenticeship wouldn't begin for a week, but I need your help right now."

"Of course Kakashi-sen, I mean Lord Hokage! What's going on?" As the blonde ninja finished, Kakashi gave a light smirk under his mask in spite of himself before replying, his expression becoming serious and grave as he did so.

"Apparently almost every last country in the Shinobi Alliance came under attack over the course of the last few days, supposedly from each other! Even the Land of Fire and our village has been accused by the Iron and Wave ambassadors," as he spoke, Kakashi saw the eyes of his apprentice go wide.

"That makes no sense! We're committed to preserving this alliance! There has to be some mistake!" Naruto replied with conviction.

"That's exactly what Shikamaru was suggesting, but either way we'll have to figure it out later. Right now we have several extremely pissed off ambassadors to calm and appease, so please stand at my side as I speak to them, but try and keep things civil, Naruto. Having a trusted hero from the war such as yourself in the room could keep the scales even."

Naruto gave a nod as he understood what was being asked of him.


Elsewhere, far away at the main temple of the Order of Jashin, the entire Akatsuki was present and assembled in the war room before their master. The four veterans, and the four new recruits stood together as a singular unit. Lord Jashin inspected them as he spoke to them.

"We have come further in the past few days than many have in years. As we speak, the Grand Master is assembling the strike force I will lead to the Hidden Sand Village. Once we frame the Hidden Waterfall for the imminent bloodbath, the alliance will fall. Osamu, you will take your team and carry out the second objective."

"As you wish, my lord," the Akatsuki leader affirmed. Lord Jashin then continued.

"Know that much is about to happen, but always remember, it is you eight that will be the guiding force for this world through each and every moment. By my will, nothing will stop you or me…" one by one, the sinister, hauntingly enigmatic dark lord walked past each member of the Akatsuki as he addressed them by name.

"Osamu Sozenuoshi…." the Akatsuki leader held a contemplative grin. He understood all too well that much was about to be decided.

"Kakuzu…" the hardened, exiled ninja had a menacing glare in his eyes.

"Hidan…" the cultist of Jashin formed his trademark maniacal grin as his name was called.

"Sasori…" the red-headed former Sand ninja held a determined expression.

"Sota Uchiha…." the long lost survivor of the Uchiha held no expression on his face, but his eyes, twin Mangekyou Sharingans, glimmered in a way that hinted the storm within. His hair was neatly pulled back into a pony tail.

"Riumi…" the raven-haired rogue ninja smirked as she couldn't help but think of how she wound up here.

"Iesyu…" the infamous former Mist ninja barred his teeth in a twisted grin that rivaled Hidan's.

"Noboru…" the blue-haired cultist of Jashin nodded as he gave a light smile.

"The dawn of a new era is close at hand. An eternity where the world itself will be permanently rent of the chains the shinobi clans have placed upon it. A world of eternal power, eternal prosperity, eternal freedom. Await my return, my chosen. The final pieces fall into place," as he finished, Lord Jashin moved over to the command table and firmly placed the last demonic figurine squarely on a single location on the map: the village of the Hidden Sand.

In the main assembly hall on the main level below, a sizable force of cultists, ninjas and soldiers alike, all stood at the ready. They were clad in jonin uniforms and wore the headbands of the Hidden Waterfall, leaving their true identities as bloodthirsty zealots obscured to the naked eye. At the front of the formation stood Grand Master Gichio Kanaomaru, who himself was disguised as a shinobi captain of the Hidden Waterfall. The lower half of his face remained hidden under a mask similar to Kakuzu. He turned to face his leader as said malignant dark lord approached.

"Lord Jashin, your exalted excellency! We stand ready to move out at your command!" The commander of the Order stood at attention along with the dozens of followers behind him.

"Very good," Lord Jashin looked over to address the cultists next, "My devotees, when you awoke this morning, you saw the sun had risen. So did the decadent foes that await us at our destination. I tell you here and now, that you, the pure, true and faithful will live to see the night in absolute triumph! Follow me, and witness the folly of those who would oppose us!"

"BY YOUR WILL, SUPREME AND ALLMIGHTY LORD!" The cultists of the Order, including the Grand Master, chanted in reply.

And with that, a combined malevolent force of unspeakable devotion and endless power set out for the Hidden Sand Village. Gaara, his siblings, and the rest of their people had no idea what was coming for them.


Back at the Hidden Leaf Village, Sakura had been invited to meet up with some of her friends at a cafe during lunch break. She found Ino, Tenten, and to her surprise, Karin, all sitting together at one of the tables outside.

"Hey, Sakura! We saved a seat for you!" Tenten called out to the pink-haired young woman as she continued walking toward them.

"Take a seat, Forehead. We were just getting better acquainted with our resident girl inmate," Ino said enthusiastically while giving Karin a sly glance. Said redhead looked uneasy, but unoffended as well.

"Ino!" The brunette weaponmaster objected.

"Relax, she's knows I'm teasing," the platinum blonde defended.

"We've met, sort of," Sakura explained as she took her seat, glancing at Karin as she did so.

"Yes, Sakura, right?" Karin asked, making an attempt to break the ice.

"That's correct. I assume Blacks Ops is watching us?" As Sakura finished her query, Ino gestured up and around with her index finger.

The pink-haired ninja looked around up above, and indeed, multiple Black Ops personnel were on watch all around the rooftops in the immediate area. Karin elaborated on this unexpected leave from house arrest.

"Since Sasuke was afforded time outside of the apartment for the Hokage ceremony, the rest of us were granted some as well. So, this is what I chose to do with it."

"That makes sense, I guess," Sakura reasoned. She noticed that Ino had been grinning at her since she sat down, and it was starting to get on her nerves, "What is it, Pig?"

"Oh come on, Forehead, you had your first official date with Naruto last night. I already filled Tenten and Karin in, so out with it!" Ino was adamant in her digging.

"I don't see how it's any of your business," Sakura said as she replied, flatly and irritated. Tenten decided to try another approach.

"If you don't want to share, that's fine. But Sakura, what's said doesn't have to go beyond us. Come on, just between us girls?"

"I promise not to share with Sasuke and the guys. So please, spill," Karin added.

"You know what, since Karin is from the Uzumaki Clan, I think she deserves to hear what's going on with her cousin," Ino interjected. The pink-haired young woman's eyes went wide at the revelation.

"You're an Uzumaki?"

"Yes, I am. I doubt that Naruto realizes it yet, but we're relatives," Karin confirmed.

"Perhaps a family reunion is due?" Sakura suggested, but Ino quickly interjected.

"Don't chance the subject, Sakura! Out with it!" After a moment of awkward silence and three pairs of eyes on her, the pink-haired ninja finally relented with a sigh.

"All right, fine. The date went… well it went great," Sakura began as a light blush crept up her cheeks.

"Do tell," Ino pressed as her grin came back. Tenten had a similar expression, and Karin felt her curiosity piqued as well.

"Well, after he brought me my favorite flowers, he walked me to a picnic he had set up for us over in the new park. Everything was set up perfectly," Sakura smiled to herself at the memory as she held the red tint on her face. Tenten was the first to speak up with a knowing grin.

"That doesn't surprise me one bit. We know how he's been fawning over you all these years."

"What happened next?" Karin asked as Ino nodded.

"He got ramen for himself, of course, but he also had other dishes prepared, including my favorite dumplings, red bean. He went through so much trouble, I felt sincerely blessed he paid that much attention for me," Sakura explained as she sighed dreamily. Ino commented as her grin widened, setting her chin down in the palm of her hand with her elbow on the table

"Sounds like you found yourself a keeper, Forehead," both Tenten and Karin nodded in agreement.

"To be perfectly honest, I think I have. I can't remember the last time I've been this happy," Sakura revealed as she thought about it herself, "I'm still ashamed that I so blatantly overlooked him all these years, when all along he was right here with me. But I intend to make up for lost time now," she added.

"Yeah, I'm sure you do," Ino added as she wiggled her brows suggestively.

"INO!" Sakura took immediate objection to the notion as her blush took on a deeper shade. Both of the other girls giggled at this turn in the conversation.


Hours later in the Land of Air, the disguised cultists of the Order of Jashin were approaching the Hidden Sand Village, led by their insidious mastermind. The late afternoon sun shimmered down onto the desert floor as the adherents to Lord Jashin used the various rock formations for cover. The imminent assault was close at hand. Kanaomaru took point at the front, and his pale grey eyes reflected the gates to the town that lay ahead of them. Near the center of the strike force, Lord Jashin relayed further instructions.

"Once the sun sets, the offensive can begin. We will rise with the Blood Moon."

With these words from the dark lord echoing in his mind, Kanaomaru thought back to earlier in the day. The dark, malevolent ritual that would ensure the success of the cultists against a numerically superior opponent had been concluded successfully.

In the main ritual chamber down in the sublevels of the main temple, fresh corpses and spilled blood littered and drenched the stone floor up against the walls in the dimly-lit room, the only source of light being iron sconces on the walls. On the floor was a large rendering of the Jashin Crest painted in the blood of the sacrifices, the painting renewed for every ritual performed. At the center of the crest stood an iron pedestal that held a large crimson-jeweled orb firmly in place atop of it. From the north side of the chamber, Lord Jashin and Grand Master Kanaomaru observed as a group of hand-picked cultists, including Hidan, used knives to carve out the innards of the sacrifices. One at the time, the cultists squeezed and popped the various organs and entrails over the orb, drenching it in blood.

Finally, after a few dozen rounds of offerings, the orb began to glow, the deep red light illuminating the chamber. Lord Jashin approached the orb and removed the glove from his right hand. He placed it squarely on the orb, soaking his fingers in the freshly-spilled blood and causing the glow to intensify to nearly-blinding levels. He explained in his nightmarish voice as his devotees looked on.

"The orb was imbued with a portion of my power eons ago. As you offer sacrifices to me for my blessing, offering sacrifices to it earns its favor as well. And by my will, the power within shall curse the night sky, and all of our foes that try to fight us beneath it. The might of the Blood Moon shall empower all who serve faithfully."

"The symbiosis will be glorious! Nothing can stop us with such wonderful power at our disposal!" Hidan cackled maniacally.

Kanaomaru observed with a twisted grin beneath his mask. The cultists had performed rituals using the orb before, but never had the dark lord himself unlocked its abilities for them. The surging of the dark, otherworldly energies was more intense than it ever had been before. Never had the crimson light been so bright. Never had the fate of the non-believers looked so dark. The best was indeed, truly yet to come.


Elsewhere on the hillside overlooking the Hidden Leaf village, the eight ninjas of the Akatsuki observed their own target from obscurity behind the brush and the trees. Osamu and his cohorts lay in wait anticipating the order to strike.

"The Hidden Leaf Village… it has been some time," the Akatsuki leader stated nostalgically.

Days Off with the Akatsuki

Chapter 9: Not Practical Joker

While taking a walk through the woods, Sasori came upon Hidan standing beneath a cliff face reeling in a fishing rod, the line of which went up and over the cliff above them.

"What the hell are you doing, Hidan?" The redhead rogue Sand ninja asked the deranged cultist as he walked over. Hidan had a conniving look in his eyes.

"Oh hey Sasori. Get this, I attached five ryo to the hook at the end of this line and right now Kakuzu and Osamu are chasing it right towards the cliff! Once I pull it over, they'll go over too, and splat! Hahaha!"

"You do realize they'll just get pissed and kick your ass, right?" Sasori asked as he rolled his eyes.

"They'll be knocked unconscious from the fall, I'll have plenty of time to get away!" Hidan tried reasoning.

In the next instant, however, Hidan was sharply pulled forward and up the cliff side, yelping as he did so. Sasori merely looked on as he formed a knowing smirk. Once up and over the edge, he found himself face to face with a severely irritated Osamu and Kakuzu. Osamu held the five ryo as Kakuzu dropped the line and cracked his knuckles. Hidan felt sweat drop down his forehead as he tried to think of an excuse.

"Oh, hey guys… I was… uhh… land fishing…"

"And yet you're the catch of the day, dumbass," Osamu replied as he offered the money to Kakuzu before continuing, "You keep the money, and I get to be the one to pummel him."

"Fine by me," the masked rogue ninja replied as he swiped the money off the hook.

"Oh come on, can't either of you take a fucking joke?!" Hidan griped, but his demeanor changed with a gulp as Osamu drew his katana.

"Let's make this interesting, Hidan. Ten second head start, and go! One… two… three… four…"

"I'm not playing this shit!" The deranged cultist snapped.

"Ten!"

"Oh fuck!"

Hidan took off into the forest behind the cliff, but rather than give chase, Osamu merely fired a bolt of lightning from his left index and middle fingers. A scream of pain signified the Akatsuki leader had hit his mark.

"He never learns," Kakuzu commented drolly as he placed his new money in his robes.